South Africa fight back after jolts

South Africa rallied to 262 for seven at the close of play on the first day of the third and final Test against England on Thursday after losing four quick wickets in the opening session.

The Proteas, who will replace England at the top of the world rankings if they draw, managed a recovery through the efforts of JP Duminy (61), Vernon Philander (46*), Jacques Rudolph (42) and Dale Steyn (21*).

England fast bowler Steven Finn captured three wickets in seven balls before lunch while James Anderson took the other two wickets either side of the lunch interval.

Captain Graeme Smith (14), fellow-opener Alviro Petersen (22), Hashim Amla (13) and Jacques Kallis (3) all departed before lunch after South Africa had won the toss and elected to bat.

Left-handers Rudolph and Duminy were mostly untroubled, even against the off-spin of Graeme Swann turning the ball away from them, though Rudolph might have been run out on 40 had Anderson's throw from mid-wicket to the non-striker’s end been accurate.

De Villiers was well caught by Alastair Cook at third slip after he nicked Anderson, pushing outside off stump. He had failed to add a run having survived an England review when they felt he was lbw.

In the morning session, Smith was first to go when Anderson came around the wicket to the left-hander for the first time. The batsman stabbed at a delivery wide of the off-stump and was caught behind but given out only after England had reviewed umpire Kumar Dharmasena's decision. Petersen survived another England review but did not last long thereafter.

The biggest talking point of the morning was the loss of Kallis, second on the all-time list of test century scorers. Kallis gave wicketkeeper Matt Prior his third catch after a deflection off his glove after Dharmasena initially rejected the appeal.

England called for a review and replays seemed to show that the ball had clipped Kallis's bottom glove but only when his hand had left the bat handle. Third umpire Rod Tucker over-ruled the original decision.

Did you know?

Century manAndrew Strauss became the ninth English and 53rd player overall to play 100 or more Test matches. He took eight years and 88 days to reach this milestone. Aussie Mark Waugh, the fastest to get to this milestone, took eight years and 342 days to reach this milestone.

The skipperSouth Africa skipper Graeme Smith has now captained a Test team for the most number of matches. At Lord’s, he appeared in his 94th Test as national team captain and overtook the mark of 93 Tests as skipper set by former Australia batsman Allan Border.